Intentional fallacy

Definition

Intentional fallacy refers to the error of judging a work of art or literature based on the author's intention rather than the work itself. This concept emphasizes that a reader's interpretation should not be influenced by the author's personal goals or meanings, as those are separate from the text's intrinsic qualities and structures.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The term was coined by W.K. Wimsatt and Monroe C. Beardsley in their 1946 essay 'The Intentional Fallacy,' where they argued against using an author's intention as a metric for evaluating literature.
2. Intentional fallacy is often contrasted with the idea that a text can be interpreted in multiple ways based on reader experiences and contexts.
3. This concept underscores the belief that a work stands on its own merits, free from the biases and intentions of its creator.
4. The rejection of intentional fallacy marked a significant shift in literary criticism towards more objective analysis focused on the text itself.
5. Understanding intentional fallacy can enhance critical reading skills by encouraging readers to engage with the text rather than seeking to decode the author's personal message.

Review Questions

• How does understanding intentional fallacy enhance the practice of New Criticism?
  • Understanding intentional fallacy enhances New Criticism by reinforcing its core belief that the value and meaning of a text should be derived solely from an analysis of its formal elements. By ignoring authorial intention, critics can focus on how aspects like structure, imagery, and language contribute to the overall experience of the work. This allows for interpretations grounded in textual evidence rather than subjective assumptions about what the author meant.
• In what ways does intentional fallacy challenge traditional views on authorial intent in literary criticism?
  • Intentional fallacy challenges traditional views by asserting that an author's intentions should not dictate how a text is interpreted. This perspective encourages critics to view literature as an independent entity with its own meanings, separate from what the author may have wanted to convey. By advocating for an analysis based on textual evidence rather than biographical context, this approach revolutionizes how literature is critiqued and understood.
• Evaluate the implications of rejecting intentional fallacy on reader-response criticism and its focus on interpretation.
  • Rejecting intentional fallacy allows reader-response criticism to thrive by placing emphasis on individual interpretation rather than fixed authorial meanings. This creates a dynamic interaction between readers and texts, where meaning is fluid and shaped by personal experiences. However, it also raises questions about how much freedom readers should have in interpreting works without considering authorial intent, prompting ongoing debates about the balance between author influence and reader autonomy in literary analysis.

Related terms

New Criticism:

A literary theory that focuses on the close reading of texts, prioritizing the text itself over external factors such as authorial intent or historical context.

Formalism: An approach to literature that examines the formal elements of a text, such as structure, style, and language, independent of its content or authorship.

Reader-response criticism: A literary theory that posits that a reader's interpretation and emotional response are central to the meaning of a text, highlighting the active role of the reader in creating meaning.